What to Do If You Feel Awkward in Front of the Camera
If you feel awkward in front of the camera, I need you to know something right away: same.
I am not one of those people who gets in front of a camera and suddenly knows what to do with my face, hands, shoulders, spine, mouth, and entire personality. I have absolutely stood there wondering if I’m smiling too much, not enough, weirdly, aggressively, or in a way that makes me look like I’m being held hostage by my own nervous system. So when couples tell me they’re awkward in photos, I’m never judging. I get it. Deeply. Personally. Unfortunately.
The good news is that being awkward in front of the camera does not mean you take bad photos. It usually just means you don’t know what to do yet, and honestly, why would you? Most people are not walking around with professional posing knowledge stored in their body like a backup file. You probably don’t spend your regular Tuesday thinking about where your hands should go while someone photographs you lovingly in a field. That would be a little concerning.
That’s where I come in.
My job is not to point a camera at you and say “just act natural,” because nothing makes a person act less natural than being told to act natural. My job is to guide you enough that you don’t feel abandoned, keep things moving so you’re not overthinking every breath, and make you laugh enough that at some point you forget you were supposed to be nervous. Usually the laughing is at me, which I fully accept as part of the service.
I’ll tell you where to stand, what to do with your hands, where to look, when to move, when to lean in, when to walk, when to fix your partner’s jacket, when to pull them closer, and when to stop worrying because OMG babes, you’re gorgeous. And yes, I do mean that. I am very serious about hyping people up. You might feel awkward, but I promise I’m not standing behind the camera thinking you look awkward. I’m usually thinking the light looks good, your face looks great, the little in-between moment was cute, and I need you to stop being mean to yourself immediately.
A lot of people think good photos come from knowing how to pose perfectly, but most of my favorite photos happen when people are moving, laughing, adjusting, holding onto each other, or reacting to something real. You don’t have to become a statue with perfect cheekbone awareness. You just have to be willing to follow a little direction and trust that I’m watching for the moments that actually work.
That’s also why I don’t expect every photo to be some intense romantic movie poster situation. Some couples are soft and quiet. Some are playful. Some roast each other the entire time. Some need a minute to warm up. Some start nervous and then fully become menaces by the end of the session. All of that is fine. I’m not trying to force you into a version of romance that feels fake for you. I’d rather figure out what actually feels natural between you and build from there.
If you’re worried about looking stiff, movement helps a lot. Walking, leaning, holding hands, fixing hair, bumping shoulders, whispering something stupid, pulling each other in, or just taking a second to breathe can do more than a rigid pose ever will. A photo can still be guided without feeling staged, and that’s usually the balance I’m looking for. I’ll give you enough direction that you don’t feel lost, but not so much that every photo feels like you’re performing affection for a panel of judges.
It also helps to wear something you actually feel good in. Not something you think you’re “supposed” to wear because Pinterest bullied everyone into beige linen, unless beige linen is genuinely your thing. Wear clothes that fit well, move well, and feel like you. If you’re constantly pulling at your outfit, worrying about a neckline, adjusting sleeves, or wearing shoes that make you want to emotionally exit the premises, it’s going to be harder to relax. You don’t need to dress like a different person for photos. You just need to feel like a slightly more intentional version of yourself.
The same goes for your partner. If they’re nervous, grumpy about photos, or convinced they only know one face, that’s normal too. I am not expecting anyone to show up as a professional model. I’m expecting real people, with real nerves, real personalities, and maybe one person who needs a little more warming up before they stop acting like they’ve never had arms before. We’ll get there.
Engagement sessions are especially helpful for this. They give you a chance to get used to being photographed before the wedding day, which makes a huge difference. By the time the wedding comes around, you already know how I direct, I already know how you two interact, and nobody is meeting the camera for the first time while also trying to process a full wedding timeline, family emotions, and the fact that you’re legally and emotionally doing a very big thing.
And if this is for your wedding day, I promise you will not be thinking about the camera the entire time. There will be parts where I guide you, especially during portraits, but so much of the day is just happening. You’ll be hugging people, laughing, crying, walking, dancing, listening, trying to eat something, getting pulled into conversations, and realizing the day is moving faster than you expected. I’m there to catch that too, not just the parts where you’re looking directly at me.
So if you feel awkward in front of the camera, you’re not a problem. You’re normal. You’re a human who has not been professionally trained to know what to do when a lens appears, and that’s completely fine. I’ll help you through it, make it less weird, probably embarrass myself at least once, and hype you up until you start to believe me.
You don’t have to show up already feeling confident or know exactly what to do in front of the camera. Just show up as yourself, and I’ll help with the rest.
